What's Next...
Making the dash count...more on that below
Gotcha!
If you thought this was me sharing what’s next after only two months-ish of being a kinda-entrepreneur, it’s definitely not lol! I wish I was fucking announcing, “I have a cooking show on Netflix, premiering April 2024!” but y’all - let’s be real, I’m still growing & expanding!
What’s next? I’ve actually been getting that question a lot lately, like A LOT. To be quite honest, at first, I was trying to think of something to say but then I felt myself getting fidgety whenever someone asked because, in my mind, it’s “Bitch, you don’t know, just say that!”
In all honesty, I’m getting a lot more comfortable saying “I don’t know” because it’s the truth and if you’ve been reading my past couple of newsletters, this whole chapter of me betting on myself, being comfortable with being uncomfortable and change is all about that...the unknown & figuring it the fuck out!
Is there anything wrong with the in-between & taking time to figure it out? Even if you didn’t quit your job during a pandemic lol. I think about that a lot and, thanks to social media, you feel like you’re NEVER not doing enough.
Hear me out here. I’m 33, so Facebook was only for college students when I got on it around 2006, then in 2009 we got Twitter and it was kinda like, what is this lol? Then we got Instagram in 2011 with these wonky ass filters and the world blew up making social media king. There’s so much toxicity in it but then there’s A LOT of good (I’ve said this before). It’s gotten to a point where you compare or you doubt yourself because of a picture, caption - the list goes on. We all know that people present the prettiest picture of life but it can still be triggering, you know? Isn’t that crazy when we think about it? I know I fall into it because it’s turned into how to grow your following, being consistent in posting, the ever-changing algorithm, the number of platforms you have to be on to be somewhat successful, etc. and then a new fucking feature every got damn week. Lol, it’s fucking exhausting!
BUT, you learn & pivot!
I’ve talked about my battles with social media before but what I love most is my growing community and I will continue to say that until these newsletters come to an end lol. A little story, the world, or New York rather, is opening back up and a girl that started following me during the pandemic stopped me at a bar (Thank God I wasn’t totally wasted or maybe I was who knows lol) but the kind & encouraging words meant a whole lot to me, more than you know because you put stuff out there into the world hoping it resonates. She actually said to me at Las Lap (Las Lap is like our modern day Cheers here in NYC because you can stay there forever then look up at 4 am and you're still drinking tequila sodas & you’re like I gotta go home lol...always good times). Anyway, she said, “I didn’t cook until I started following you and I’ve been COOKING, so thank you girl”. I literally wanted to cry. Honestly...
Because this whole thing, whatever it is that I’m doing lol, is to encourage you to cook and to feel confident in the kitchen and that’s what I’m figuring out…how to keep doing that! I don’t want to just do shit, to do it...you know?
This whole chapter of my life is about being intentional because for the last 10 years, I was trying to climb the corporate ladder but in return ignoring myself and what I actually wanted the entire time. I don’t regret the last 10 years at all but now it’s ME time! Let’s fucking gooooooo!
There are things I’m working on, like a product I can’t wait to release that means a lot to me, no matter how small it is. More to come on that. I’m saying YES to a lot of things I would’ve normally said no to because of fear, I’m shooting content and most importantly, cooking for myself & y’all! I want you to be in the kitchen cooking for yourself or a new man friend (wink, wink) cuz the girls are outside and y’all are dressed downnnnnnnn, ok! Now, I know the recipes have slowed down a little because outside has opened and I’m enjoying every minute of it while also choosing vibes over budget (sorry, Janell) but I’m still thinking about all the recipes in my head that I want to cook!
Also, I’m thinking about kinda going back to school. Well not like for real, for real but there is a 6-week program course on Food & Sustainability that has a focus on food injustice through eCornell that I’m about 99% positive I’m going to enroll in - I’ll tell you why in a sec. I said to the advisor, so does this mean I’m an Ivy League grad now lol!?
Anyway, this is why I’m interested in the course. During the panny, I started walking a whole lot (and still do) to clear my mind and with all the home cooking I was doing I ended up losing around 15ish pounds. Now it may not be noticeable but a bitch was puffy AF before. I was drinking & eating out a lot because of my job - we traveled a ton and had lots of client dinners, drinks, open bar events and I wasn’t really home cooking. Once I started to get back into the kitchen, I noticed a difference. Yes, you hear this a lot but it really is what you eat! I can’t harp on this enough but cooking with fresh ingredients is super key, you will literally feel it in your body! I’m actually not scarfing down pasta, pizza or burgers every day lol. I want to understand more about sustainability and how I can make an impact in my community through food education & cooking. Honestly, my dream is to start an urban farm back in D.C. to grow food for myself & the community all while having a small cafe with really good food & coffee on the grounds - and drinks of course. Manifesting & working toward that one day soon. I’m actually saying this out loud on purpose (because you know, the universe) so if anyone has land or leasing space with some damn grass in D.C. let a girl know!
So, short newsletter long lol…That's what’s next but I’m sure God has a lot more in store for me that I would’ve never seen coming and I’m OK with that…Look at me embracing change! lol
I do know that I’m waking up every day grateful for being able to be in this chapter of my life. Now, every day is not roses & berries. There are days where I’m riddled with doubt despite my wins (listen we are all a work in progress) or I feel all over the place but I’m finding my rhythm and figuring it out.
This may be a tad morbid but my dad always says (I’m pretty sure he got this from a quote lol but hey it’s a good one), it’s the “dash” on your tombstone that matters. It’s not the sunrise or sunset it’s that dash in between those dates, how you live out your life - that’s what matters...and let me tell you, I’m making that dash fucking count.
Until next newsletter,
Xo, Alex